NBA Mock Draft

After reading literally dozens of reports and projections, I'm making my own mock draft guess.

1. CHICAGO - Derrick Rose - PG/6-3 - The Bulls seems locked in here, and with Rose aboard, it makes Kirk Hinrich a valuable trading commodity, which they should use to get a better big man.

2. MIAMI - Michael Beasley - PF/6-8 - Even though Miami really wants Rose, it doesn't look like that will happen. I'm thinking they trade this, and I've seen sceanrios with Seattle, Memphis and the Clippers.

3. MINNESOTA - O.J. Mayo - SG/6-4 - Putting him with Randy Foye and Al Jefferson makes a talented core. But Al Jefferson was the center of a "talented core" for years in Boston and it didn't get anywhere, but you need to start somewhere.

4. SEATTLE - Brook Lopez - C/7-0 - Sonics' ownership seems determined to torpedo their relationship with Seattle, and while they really need a star point guard (Earl Watson/Luke Ridnour are not long-term solutions), I can see them drafting yet another center, though Lopez should be more effective than Robert Swift, Johan Petro and Mahmoud Sene.

5. MEMPHIS - Kevin Love - PF/6-9 - Assuming there are no trades, Love will be a good fit with the gutted Grizzlies. Time for Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Mike Miller and crew to take on Portland for Best Young Team in the West.

6. NEW YORK - Jerryd Bayless - PG/6-3 - The Knicks have been dying for a better point guard than the shoot-first crew that have shuffled through there (Marbury, Francis, Robinson...), and if Bayless lips to here, I think they take. Rumor has it Mike D'Antoni might take a risk on the Italian star Danilo Gallinari, but they need that point guard in place.

7. L.A. CLIPPERS - Russell Westbrook - PG/6-3 - Here's another team looking for a point guard, where it's clear Shaun Livingston's body just won't let him do it.

8. MILWAUKEE - Joe Alexander - SF/6-8 - If Alexander is here, they take him. He's exactly what they want and need.

9. CHARLOTTE - Kosta Koufos - C/7-1 - The Bobcats want a center so they can move Emeka Okafor to the 4-spot. If Brook Lopez is available, they snatch him up here. They could take Koufos here, though it seems high. Then again, Rafael Araujo was high at #8 a few years ago. Big men often go sooner than they should.

10. NEW JERSEY - Danilo Gallinari - SF/6-9 - Annnnd Richard Jefferson is trade bait all summer.

11. INDIANA - Eric Gordon - SG/6-3 - He could be the point guard to finally bump Jamaal Tinsley out of there. DJ Augustin could go here too.

12. SACRAMENTO - Anthony Randolph - SF/6-8 - I can see him being a bust, but the Kings ain't been too bright lately.

13. PORTLAND - DJ Augustin - 5-11/PG - They have a lot of young pieces, so it wouldn't hurt to have more competition at point guard.

14. GOLDEN STATE - Donte Green - 6-10/PF - I've seen some centers go here, but I have a hard time seeing Nellie use them. Green has the body and style for a run-and-gun team, could be a good bench player for them.

15. PHOENIX - DeAndre Jordan - 7-0/C - Shaq's going to miss a few games, and it would behoove the Suns to groom a successor so they can keep Amare at the 4.

16. PHILADELPHIA - Brandon Rush - SG/6-6

17. TORONTO - Nicolas Batum - SF/6-8

18. WASHINGTON - Marreese Speights - PF/6-9

19. CLEVELAND - Darrell Arthur - PF/6-9

20. DENVER - JaVale McGee - C/7-0

21. NEW JERSEY - Roy Hibbert - C/7-2

22. ORLANDO - Courtney Lee - SG/6-5

23. UTAH - Alexis Ajinca - C/7-1

24. SEATTLE - JJ Hickson - PF/6-9

25. HOUSTON - Mario Chalmers - PG/6-2

26. SAN ANTONIO - Serge Ibaka - PF/6-11

27. NEW ORLEANS - Jason Thompson - C/6-11

28. MEMPHIS - Chris Douglas-Roberts - SG/6-7

29. DETROIT - Bill Walker - SF/6-6

30. BOSTON - Robin Lopez - C/7-0

Bubble players:
Ryan Anderson
Omer Asik
JR Giddens
Jamont Gordon
DeVon Hardin
Richard Hendrix
Nathan Jawai
Ante Tomic
Kyle Weaver
DJ White